Nayanthara Biography:
Nayanthara, born Diana Mariam Kurian on November 18, 1984, is a prominent Indian actress known for her impactful roles in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam films. As one of the highest-paid actresses in India, Nayanthara made headlines as the only South Indian actress to feature in Forbes India’s “Celebrity 100” list in 2018. With over 75 films to her credit, her illustrious career spans more than two decades and is decorated with numerous accolades, including five Filmfare Awards South, one Tamil Nadu State Film Award, a Nandi Award, and seven SIIMA Awards.
Nayanthara made her acting debut in the Malayalam film Manassinakkare (2003). She later transitioned to Tamil cinema with Ayya (2005) and made her Telugu debut in Lakshmi (2006). In 2010, she entered the Kannada film industry with Super.
Her remarkable portrayal of Goddess Sita in the mythological film Sri Rama Rajyam (2011) earned her critical acclaim, winning the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu and the Nandi Award for Best Actress. Nayanthara further established her reputation with award-winning performances in Raja Rani (2013), Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015), and the political drama Aramm (2017), for which she received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil and Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress.
Nayanthara’s career highlights include successful female-led films such as Anaamika (2014), Maya (2015), Dora (2017), and Imaikkaa Nodigal (2018). Her performances in Viswasam (2019) and Bigil (2019) further solidified her status as a leading actress in South Indian cinema. In 2023, she expanded her filmography into Hindi cinema with the blockbuster Jawan.
Beyond her acting career, Nayanthara is a dedicated philanthropist and runs a production house called “Rowdy Pictures.” She is married to filmmaker Vignesh Shivan, and the couple is blessed with two children.
Nayanthara continues to inspire audiences with her talent and commitment to meaningful cinema, making her a true icon in the Indian film industry.
Nayanthara Early Life:
Nayanthara, born Diana Mariam Kurian on November 18, 1984, in Bangalore, Karnataka, hails from a Malayali Syrian Christian family from Thiruvalla, Kerala. She is the daughter of Kurian Kodiyattu and Omana Kurian, and has an elder brother named Leno, who resides in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Due to her father’s career as an Indian Air Force official, Nayanthara had the opportunity to study in various locations across India. She completed her schooling in Jamnagar, Gujarat, and Delhi, and attended Balikamadom Girls Higher Secondary School in Thirumoolapuram, Thiruvalla. Nayanthara later pursued her bachelor’s degree in English Literature at Marthoma College, Thiruvalla.
Nayanthara Career:
Debut in Malayalam Cinema (2003–2004)
Nayanthara launched her acting career in 2003 with the Malayalam film Manassinakkare. While attending college, she worked part-time as a model, where she caught the eye of director Sathyan Anthikkad, who offered her a significant role in Manassinakkare after seeing her modeling assignments. Initially hesitant and uninterested in pursuing acting, she eventually agreed to take on the role for “just that one film.” The movie became a commercial success, leading to a flood of acting offers.
In 2004, she appeared in two films: Natturajavu, directed by Shaji Kailas, and Vismayathumbathu, a psychological thriller by Fazil. In Natturajavu, she played the protagonist’s adopted sister, while in Vismayathumbathu, she portrayed a ghost. Her performance in the latter received particular acclaim, with critics praising her for “stealing the thunder” and being “the revelation of the film.”
Early Work in Tamil and Telugu Cinema (2005–2007)
Nayanthara expanded her career to Tamil and Telugu films in 2005, making her Tamil debut as the lead heroine in Ayya. Behindwoods.com described her entry into Tamil cinema as “sensational,” and Nowrunning.com praised her for her “crowd-winning” presence. During the shoot for Ayya, she was cast in the comedy horror film Chandramukhi, following a recommendation from the director’s wife after watching Manassinakkare. This film ran for over 800 days in theaters, establishing Nayanthara as a sought-after actress in Tamil cinema. She also starred in Thaskara Veeran and Rappakal, both alongside Mammootty. Later, she appeared in AR Murugadoss’s Ghajini, where she played a secondary female character and performed in an item song in Sivakasi.
Nayanthara’s first 2006 release was Kalvanin Kadhali, with Indiaglitz.com noting her performance as the film’s “strength.” She made her Telugu debut in Lakshmi, followed by roles in Boss, I Love You, and three Tamil films released simultaneously during Deepavali: Vallavan, Thalaimagan, and E. While these films received mixed reviews, her performance in Vallavan stood out, with Sify commenting on her beauty and strong presence in songs. In E, she played a bar dancer, earning praise for her impactful performance, while critics noted her limited role in Thalaimagan.
Public Recognition and Widespread Success (2007–2013)
Nayanthara solidified her status in Tamil cinema with her role in the Vishnuvardhan-directed gangster film Billa (2007), a remake of the 1980 film of the same name. The film’s success, combined with her glamorous portrayal of Sasha, garnered her critical acclaim, with Sify calling her a “show-stopper.” This performance earned her nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil and the Vijay Award for Favourite Heroine. She also starred in the Telugu action drama Tulasi, which was commercially successful, earning her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu.
In 2008, Nayanthara had five releases, four of which were in Tamil. Her first film, Yaaradi Nee Mohini, showcased her acting range, with critics praising her emotional performance. She won the Vijay Award for Favourite Heroine for the second consecutive year and received her second nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil. Her subsequent films that year included Kuselan, Satyam, and Aegan. In 2009, she appeared in Villu and Aadhavan.
In 2010, all five films featuring her as the lead were commercial successes, including Adhurs (Telugu), Bodyguard (Malayalam), Simha (Telugu), Boss Engira Bhaskaran (Tamil), and Super (Kannada). She won the Asianet Award for Best Actress for Bodyguard, while Simha became one of the highest-grossing Telugu films of the year. Her performances in Simha, Boss Engira Bhaskaran, and Super earned her nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress in their respective languages. Additionally, she starred in the critically acclaimed Malayalam film Elektra, which was screened at the International Film Festival of India and the Dubai International Film Festival.
Her sole release in 2011 was the mythological film Sri Rama Rajyam, where she played Sita. Her performance received high praise, with Rediff.com calling her a “surprise package” and Sify commending her grace and perfection. This role won her the Filmfare Award – Telugu and the Nandi Award. The film was considered her swan song before her marriage, as she was expected to quit acting afterward.
After taking an eleven-month sabbatical, Nayanthara made a comeback with Krish’s Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum (2012), where she portrayed a journalist. Critics praised her performance and chemistry with co-star Rana Daggubati. This was the only Telugu film in which she dubbed for her character, earning her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu. In 2013, she received widespread acclaim for her role in Atlee’s Raja Rani, winning her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil and the Vijay Award for Best Actress. Critics noted her performance as a wife in an unhappy marriage to be her best work to date.
Her next film, Arrambam (2013), directed by Vishnuvardhan and featuring Ajith Kumar, also received positive reviews, with critics praising her portrayal and style.
Stardom and Further Expansion (2014–2022)
Though Anaamika had middling success, Nayanthara’s next project, the horror film Maya (2015), became a commercial hit. She played a single mother with a mysterious past, receiving acclaim for her unconventional role. Nayanthara continued to take on strong character roles, featuring in successful films like Bhaskar the Rascal (2015) and Thani Oruvan (2015). Her performance in the black comedy Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015) earned her a second Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil. A particular scene in the film sparked controversy, resulting in protests from the Hindu Makkal Katchi, but it did not overshadow her success.
In her first release of 2016, Nayanthara portrayed a rape victim in Puthiya Niyamam opposite Mammootty. Her performance garnered critical acclaim, earning her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam. She took on diverse roles that year, including a village school teacher in Thirunaal (2016), a spy in Iru Mugan (2016), and the queen in Kaashmora (2016). Her role in Thirunaal earned her a sixth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil.
In 2017, she starred in the horror thriller Dora and the critically acclaimed social drama Aramm, where she played a district collector. Her performance in Aramm earned her a third Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil. She also starred in the action thriller Velaikkaran. In 2018, Nayanthara played lead roles in the Telugu film Jai Simha, as well as Kolamaavu Kokila and Imaikkaa Nodigal, both of which were significant successes, achieving record openings for female-led films. Her performance in Kolamaavu Kokila earned her an eighth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil.
In 2019, Nayanthara had lead roles in Viswasam, Airaa, Kolaiyuthir Kaalam, and Bigil, marking her third collaboration with Vijay. She also starred in the Malayalam film Love Action Drama, where she was paid equally to her male co-star for the first time in Malayalam cinema. Nayanthara appeared in the Telugu biographical film Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy alongside Chiranjeevi and Tamannaah. In 2020, she had a supporting role in Darbar alongside Rajinikanth and starred in Mookuthi Amman, marking her second foray into Hindu mythological cinema after portraying Sita in 2011.
In 2021, Nayanthara collaborated with Rajinikanth again in Annaatthe, where she played a lawyer. She also starred in Netrikann, a remake of the South Korean film Blind, earning critical acclaim for her role as a blind CBI officer. Her other releases included the Malayalam film Nizhal and the Telugu film Aaradugula Bullet.
Her first film of 2022 was the romantic comedy-drama Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal, alongside Vijay Sethupathi and Samantha Ruth Prabhu. She then starred in the survival-thriller O2, portraying a single mother protecting her son from the effects of low oxygen due to cystic fibrosis. Later, she appeared in the Malayalam film Gold with Prithviraj Sukumaran, as well as the Telugu film Godfather and the Tamil horror film Connect.
Expansion to Hindi Films and Recent Work
(2023–present)
Nayanthara made her Bollywood debut with Jawan (2023), directed by Atlee, alongside Shah Rukh Khan. The film became a blockbuster, grossing over ₹1,100 crore (US$130 million) worldwide, marking the highest-grossing Indian film at that time. She won multiple awards for her performance, including a Filmfare Award and a Screen Award. Following her success, she starred in Jawaan, which showcased her as a strong female lead.
Nayanthara’s journey from a model to one of the highest-paid actresses in the Indian film industry exemplifies her versatility and dedication. With numerous accolades and a diverse range of roles, she continues to break barriers, paving the way for future generations of actresses.
Nayanthara Personal Life:
Nayanthara was raised in a typical Malayalam-speaking household in Bangalore by her Malayali parents, following the Syrian Christian tradition. Interestingly, she is polydactyl, possessing an extra rudimentary finger on her left hand.
Since their collaboration on Naanum Rowdy Dhaan in 2015, Nayanthara has been in a relationship with director Vignesh Shivan. The couple tied the knot on June 9, 2022, in a private ceremony in Mahabalipuram, attended only by family, close friends, and co-stars. In October 2022, they announced the birth of their twin children, Uyir and Ulagam, through surrogacy. The full names of their twin boys are Uyir RudroNeel N Shivan and Ulag Daiwik N Shivan, with “N” representing their mother, Nayanthara.
Nayanthara Physical Stats & More
Nayanthara Awards, Honors, and Achievements
Nayanthara Networth:
Assets/Properties:
Note: Nayanthara owns properties in various locations, including Mumbai, Tamil Nadu, and Hyderabad.
Net Worth: Approximately ₹200 crores
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